March Madness Betting: Memphis, JMU Among Early Sleepers
With the gridiron action taking a backseat, it’s the perfect time to turn your attention to the hardwood and reignite your college basketball passion.
Before the madness of March Madness betting consumes the nation, these next two months provide a crucial window for teams to solidify their positions and solidify their dreams of reaching the NCAAM Final Four.
Every upset, every buzzer-beater, and every dominant performance shapes the narrative and shifts the March Madness odds. Who will rise to the challenge and defy expectations? Buckle up, because the journey to the big dance starts now.
Instead of focusing on NCAAB picks today, let’s take a look at the Top 25 teams in the latest AP Poll that are not in a major conference.
POLL ALERT: Purdue stays atop AP Top 25 men’s basketball poll; Gonzaga falls to No. 24 but runs its poll streak to 142 weeks.
Full poll: https://t.co/ZJG5mgWrsa pic.twitter.com/cHLdjj5cKj
— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) January 1, 2024
James Madison’s success on gridiron appears to have carried over to the hardwood. The Dukes head into the New Year 13-0.
No. 19 James Madison has been as hot in the NCAAB odds going 9-3 against the spread over this stretch. These matchups have trended toward the over. Eight of the Dukes’ games have gone over with four contests hitting the under.
This week, James Madison faces Louisiana and Southern Miss. The Dukes are expected to be massive favorites in both matchups.
Now, I know what you’re saying, who has James Madison played? The Dukes have not had the most difficult schedule but did open the season with a 79-76 win over Michigan State.
Over in Memphis, Penny Hardaway has his boys balling. The Tigers enter the week at 11-2 on the season.
No. 15 Memphis has not been as impressive against the spread going 6-7 in the NCAA basketball lines through the team’s first 13 matchups. Nine of these 13 contests have hit the over.
Memphis has already faced some challenging opponents before beginning its AAC schedule. The Tigers notched victories over Missouri, Michigan, Arkansas, Clemson, Virginia and Texas A&M.
Quite an impressive resume given the calendar flipped to January. Memphis takes on Tulsa and SMU to begin AAC play.
No. 24 Gonzaga has long been the face of the non-bluebloods in college basketball transitioning from Cinderella to a perennial contender. Yet, Cinderella’s crown may have some cracks for Mark Few’s squad.
Gonzaga has struggled through its non-conference schedule against some of the top teams. The Zags are 8-4.
Most recently, Gonzaga suffered a 10-point home loss to San Diego State. The Bulldogs will be on cruise control in the coming weeks with a relatively light WCC schedule. Gonzaga’s next big test will not come until February when it faces St. Mary’s and Kentucky.
The Zags have been dismal going 4-8 in the college basketball lines. The total has split evenly to the over and under at six apiece. In its current state, this is a Gonzaga team that lacks the firepower to be a contender.
No. 17 FAU is finding it is much more challenging with a target on your back after the Owls’ deep NCAA tournament run. Despite being a 17½-point favorite, FAU was recently upset by former March Madness darlings Florida Gulf Coast.
FAU falls to #17 in the latest AP Poll pic.twitter.com/IbtR0WPJfd
— BarstoolFAU (@barstool_fau) January 1, 2024
Take A Look At These Other 2 NCAAB Special Articles
- Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Preview: Arizona, USC Top Choices
- NCAAB 2024 Reset: Betting Lines Still Favor Purdue
The Owls still have a few solid wins with victories over Butler, Texas A&M, and Virginia Tech. FAU IS 10-3 overall and has been profitable for bettors.
The Owls are 9-4 against the spread in the college basketball odds. FAU has upcoming games against Tulane and UAB.
No. 13 Colorado State sits at a scorching 13-1. The Rams are 9-3 against the spread.
Colorado State’s resume includes a few impressive wins. The Rams have victories over Washington, Colorado, Creighton, and Boston College. Colorado State has upcoming games against Utah State and Boise State.
The schedule will start to get a little lighter for the majority of these teams as they begin conference play. It will be worth watching which top teams will be able to maintain focus with most of these squads being sizable favorites in their upcoming games.
College basketball lines are heating up. Bet on March Madness and see if you can be the champion!
